Joel Ward has explained what makes Premier League leaders Liverpool so difficult to play against.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds moved to within one win of securing their first Premier League title as they thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 at Anfield last night (Wednesday), with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane all on target for the hosts.
The win means Liverpool need just one more victory to win the title, although they could be crowned champions tonight if Manchester City fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
And Palace defender Ward has highlighted why Liverpool are currently the best team in the country, with the Reds currently having a 23-point advantage over City in second.
"It's a tough one, obviously we know what they can do and what they have done throughout the whole season. They pressurise teams from the front and don't give them an easy ride, and that's what they have done [against us]," he said, speaking to Sky Sports.
"It is very difficult. It is difficult enough to beat their press and to have that composure to get on the ball and get two or three passes, but they all go together and it is difficult to get out and get the ball up the pitch.
"It is what they have done all season and what they have worked on. We have to learn from it and find a way to beat the press."
But Ward insists that Palace must not dwell on the result, adding that Roy Hodgson's side still have the opportunity to record their best-ever points tally in the Premier League, with the Eagles currently ninth in the table with 42 points from 31 games.
"It is the Premier League, you will always get results like this," he said.
"There are hot spells and there are times when you get knocked on the chin, but it is how you recover from that and we have the opportunity to go again on Monday against Burnley and put things right, and there's no reason why we can't continue the form that we have been in..
"This was difficult against the best team in the country at the moment. It was tough and we have to learn from it, but it doesn't need to stop us from kicking on and climbing the league.
